BY NEWS EDITOR, NOVEMBER 06, 2024 | 10:46 AM

Nigeria's Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, has passed away at the age of 56 due to an undisclosed illness.

His death was announced by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in statement issued from the presidency on Wednesday morning.

According to the statement, the army chief died on Tuesday night at Lagos State.

The president expressed his heartfelt condolences to the family and the Nigerian Armed Forces.

Lt. Gen. Lagbaja had a military career spanning over three decades, beginning at the Nigerian Defence Academy in 1987.

He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Nigerian Infantry Corps in 1992 and went on to serve in various command roles, including the 93 Battalion and the 72 Special Forces Battalion.

Lt. Gen. Lagbaja was also an alumnus of the U.S. Army War College, holding a master's degree in Strategic studies.

He is survived by his wife, Mariya, and their two children.

While he is away for medical treatment, the president has appointed Olufemi Oluyede as the acting Chief of Army Staff, who was recently promoted to the rank of lieutenant-general.